My last Reunion

[Huntsman27]

Wishing you a safe trip as you reunite with your brethren and thank you for your service to this great country.

[muzzlebrake]

Enjoy your visit with your Brothers-in-Arms.

Here's a picture from my platoons last reunion in Las Vegas. It was a great time.


I came across this essay recently that somewhat captures the life of a Grunt in Vietnam.

"Imagine this: after a blistering hot day marching up and down mud slicked hills, or tramping wide open fields, or steamy jungle, imagine setting out booby traps on enemy trails, laying in wait, then ever so carefully, breaking them down.
At dusk, after planting trips and Claymores round the NDP, after finding a spot for your pack and gear, after eating tinned C-rations of beans and franks, imagine curling up on the cold wet ground.
Now, fast asleep, being woken twice in the night by a man gently tapping your resting arm. “Your guard,” he whispers, for the first of two one hour shifts.
Leaving that foxhole the second time, grenades, machine gun, Claymore detonators all in place, imagine two hours sleep, rising at dawn, shrugging off bugs and wet bamboo, rubbing rheumy eyes, brushing sticky teeth.
Before the grueling day begins, there is the welcoming taste of GI coffee. Here is how to make it:
Seated crossed legged, take a chunk of C-4 the size of a thumbnail, shape it into a ball, set it carefully down.
Tear open the packet of instant coffee saved from last nights C-ration meal. Pour it into a canteen cup half-filled with water.
Tap the brown powder over the cup, stir with a C-ration white plastic spoon.
Strike a GI match and light the C4. Do not breathe in the white smoke; the fumes, it is said, are harmful.
Hold the canteen cup over the burning explosive until the water boils, about thirty seconds.
Remove the cup from the bright yellow flames. Let the C-4 burn itself out. Those who step on it risk losing a foot.
Tear open and pour in one or two packets of non dairy creamer. Repeat with sugar. Use the white plastic spoon to mix and stir. With eyes closed, inhale the savory vapors; cup to your lips, feel the hot inky brew flood your mouth, scourge your tongue, roll down your willing gullet. The taste is awful, but it will do.
Grunts savor this quiet time, before every inch of our bodies is salty with sweat. This quiet time before seething mosquitoes, snapping ants, creeping leeches bite or sting or drink our blood.
This quiet time before sudden shots fill us with dread that is always new. This quiet time before the shrieking air sings of the wounded, smells of the dead.
It is the all too fleeting quiet time, which ends with the softly echoed ‘zero two,’ followed by the dim rustling of one hundred packs, helmets, weapons reluctantly lifted, slung, shifted to place.
See how the flock of helmeted cranes slouch against their rifles, feel how the sweat drips down narrow cheeks, collects at the chin, free falls, forming small dark spots on half bent knees.
Listen, as moments after the hushed command, one hundred grudging soldiers, one by one, reluctantly trudge forward, into the grim unwinnable jaws of Vietnam."

Essay by: Vietnam Veteran Marc Levy 69/70

Thanks. That essay is spot on the way it was for us. The only thing I did different with the coffee is add the hot chocolate pack from the B-3 can and make me some Coffa. That made the coffee tolerable to drink. To this day I still only sleep 2 hours at a time before waking up to listen a minute and go back to sleep if I can.

[tpack]

I have a good friend that was in Nam. He had his last reunion in 2019. He told me the other day that his 84-year-old platoon leader called him for the first time in 30 years. He said he had written a book about his Viet Nam experiences and someone had contacted him about making a movie about it.

He also told me about his platoon jumping out of helicopters cause the grass being so tall to land. The choppers flew off as he realized he had broken his ankle. He told his platoon leader just as they were headed up a big hill. The platoon leader radioed the helicopter to come back and get him. As the helicopter came back the Viet Cong let loose on it from the exact location they were about to head up. He said the ambush would have been terrible and his broken ankle probably saved his and others.

[Pedernal]

Safe travels Sir. Big heart-felt Thank You to your group of Warriors!

[muzzlebrake]

I have a good friend that was in Nam. He had his last reunion in 2019. He told me the other day that his 84-year-old platoon leader called him for the first time in 30 years. He said he had written a book about his Viet Nam experiences and someone had contacted him about making a movie about it.

He also told me about his platoon jumping out of helicopters cause the grass being so tall to land. The choppers flew off as he realized he had broken his ankle. He told his platoon leader just as they were headed up a big hill. The platoon leader radioed the helicopter to come back and get him. As the helicopter came back the Viet Cong let loose on it from the exact location they were about to head up. He said the ambush would have been terrible and his broken ankle probably saved his and others.

Luck of the draw jumping out into elephant grass. Sometimes the ground was solid and sometimes you sink almost waist deep in water/mud. 80 pounds of gear and ruck sack on your back didn't help any. Good Story!

[pigsticker64]

Thank you & all your group for your service and many sacrifice.. God bless you !

[Smart]

Thank you for your service and safe travels for you all!

[raider19]

God bless you and thank you for your service!

[muzzlebrake]

Made it! 7 hrs drive. Rain all the way.

[Greenheadless]

I hope this won’t be y’alls last reunion.

Have fun while there and welcome home hero’s!